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Date12/10/2004Hits24,357

CategoryMotorsports

Formula 3 to race exclusively on Hankook tires

Hankook Germany intensifies its motor sport activities

Essen, November 25th, 2004. From 2005, Formula 3 in Germany will be racing exclusively on Hankook tires. The Korean company is presenting itself as the exclusive partner for this series for the first time at the Essen Motorshow. An agreement to this effect has recently been signed between the German Formula 3 Association, as the organizer of the RECARO Formula 3 Cup, and Hankook Reifen Deutschland GmbH. This is a logical expansion of Hankook’s diverse activities in the area of motor racing.

The new contractual partners are aiming for a long-term partnership, which has initially been fixed for two years, with an option for a third season. From the start of next season, Hankook will therefore be the exclusive supplier to the Recaro Formula 3 Cup in Germany. “Motor sport is a wonderful instrument for demonstrating technical competence and the performance of the Hankook products. In racing we can also test innovations and use the experience gained for mass production,? explains Manfred Sandbichler, head of the motor sport division at Hankook Reifen Deutschland.

Hankook Tire has steadily increased its involvement in European racing over recent years. Last season, Hankook’s high-performance tires were on the starting line in motor sport competitions in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain. The group had previously gathered many years?experience in motor sport in Korea and the US. Last season in Germany, the company supported four series as sponsor and supplier: the Castrol Haugg Cup, the Youngtimer Trophy, the Triumph GTM Hankook Masters and the Caterham Hankook Masters.

“In Hankook, the Formula 3 Association has found a competent partner that ties in perfectly with the strategy of the up-and-coming Recaro Formula 3 Cup. Hankook’s competence in motor sport was established long ago -it has been supplying the Italian Formula 3 Championship since 2002? says Recaro Formula 3 Cup organizer Bertram Schafer. As well as providing technical support as exclusive tire supplier, Hankook will also integrate Formula 3 into various marketing activities, including the Essen Motorshow. Formula 3 in Germany rates very highly among Hankook’s motor sport activities, as Hankook Germany’s managing director Byeong-Jin Lee explains: “Our motto is ‘driving emotion? and supporting young Formula 3 talents fits in perfectly here. We chose this partnership deliberately, because it produced Michael Schumacher, the greatest Formula 1 talent ever. Grand Prix racing is the next logical step for those who perform well in this championship.

Hankook Tire has been the market leader in Korea for many years and is currently the ninth largest tire manufacturer worldwide. After great success in Asia, the group is increasingly opening up the world market. It was founded in 1941, has its headquarter in Seoul and produces over 50 million tires per year, which are sold in 170 countries.